world's smallest yacht

Szymon Kuczynski World Record for the Smallest Yacht around the Globe Solo and Non-Stop

Szymon Kuczynski secured a new world record for the smallest yacht to circumnavigate the globe singlehanded and unaided, when he returned to Mayflower Marina in Plymouth on Thursday 17th May.

Szymon, who set sail last year from Plymouth on August 19, completed the circumnavigation in 270 days, 10 hours and 29 minute. The World Sailing Speed Record Council recognizes a similar feat by Alessandro di Benedetto (FRA/ITA) in 2009-10 who sailed a 6.5m (21ft 3.9in) Mini yacht around the world in 268 days, 19 hours, 36 minutes, 12 seconds.

The solo sailor took a classic route round the three famous capes of Africa, Australia and South America . Szymon had been living in a space of just four square metres for over 9 months and accomplished this trip without ever making any stops to ports.

In 2013, he sailed back and forward across the Atlantic Ocean on his self-built, 5m long yacht, “Lilla My” as part of a ‘Call to the Ocean’ race.

And in 2014, Szymon finished his round the world trip- “Maxus Solo Around”- taking the Pasat Route, making stops at ports along the way.

About the boat

The sailboat was manufactured in the Northman shipyard in Poland. The Maxus 22, which is normally used for in-land sailing and close-shore waters, has been adjusted for such and ocean challenge, by changing most of it’s construction.

The hull and rigging have been strengthened and the interior of the yacht has been limited to the essential appliances. The cabin can be hermetically closed, and the hull can still remain floating on the water, even in case of an accident and a complete water flooding inside.

Szymon Kuczynski Journey Statistics 

Time:  270 days, 10 hours, 29 minutes. Miles travelled: 29 044. Average speed:  4,5 kt. Maximum speed: 14,9 kt. Books read: 143.

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How could you leave out the most important part of the news. Here it is: 6,36 m.

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Fiat 500 Riva, the world's smallest yacht

At the beginning of June 2016, we told you about the first Fiat 500 created in partnership with the luxury yacht brand Riva. The car presented by the brand as "the smallest yacht in the world" is now available for sale at all Fiat dealerships. The Riva can be purchased for less than 20,000 .

You can now treat yourself to the Fiat 500 Riva, available at all Fiat dealerships. The car is inspired by the Aquarama, the famous motorboat from Riva Yacht , and has been built with some of the materials used in the boat . For example, there is a mahogany dashboard with maple wood inlays, the same wood species used for Riva yachts . The door sills and gear knob are also made of solid mahogany.

"The new 500 Riva is aimed at motorists looking for the same exclusivity on land that the Aquariva Super yacht - Riva's current icon - offers, as well as the accessibility that has made the 500 a legend: quality materials and a unique style to feel the emotions of a cruise during every daily trip to the city" we read on the Fiat website.

This limited series goes up in range thanks to these noble woods, used for the manufacture of Riva yachts . However, the resemblance with the famous Riva shipyard canoe stops there, even if both brands have tried to push the resemblance further.

The bodywork of the Fiat 500 Riva will be covered in the colour "Sera Blue" (night blue). "It's one of the most popular colors in the Aquariva Super palette." explains Fiat. The cabriolet version has a new blue soft top created exclusively for this version, while the saloon version has a panoramic black roof.

To remind you of the boat , the mirror housings are chromed, as are the handles and the hood finish. The aquamarine line running along the beltline seeks to recall the silhouette of a yacht. Finally, the car is equipped with new 20-spoke 16-inch light alloy wheels with a specific blue finish, created exclusively for this model.

This special series signed Riva and Fiat will also have the logo of the nautical legend and the trade name "Riva" will also appear on the front fenders, on the wooden inserts of the side panels and on the dashboard.

Available in sedan or convertible versions and with all the engines in the range, prices start from 17,990 euros for the 69 bhp 1.2 petrol version.

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The man who went around the world on the smallest yacht in the world.

Serge Testa and Acrohc Australis

Serge Testa is the man who went around the world on the smallest yacht in the world.

A 3.6 meter boat and a man who dared to go around the world in it, a record that has not been broken to this day

How he decided to take such a trip and what his micro-boat was like: “ A little ambition, a little imagination and a lot of patience can go a long way”

Serge Testa was born in 1950 in an Italian family in France, he spent his childhood in Brazil. His passion for his travels led him to Australia, where he fell in love with the sea and sailing.

The first experiment was not very successful: the wooden sloop that Testa was studying at sea was too deteriorated and sunk. Serge was not discouraged and continued to practice sailing, while trying to build ships. It is no wonder that one day the idea of ​​sailing around the world matured in his head, and necessarily on a yacht of his own design.

TESTA FIRST: BUILT A 33 FEET SLOOP TO TRAVEL THE WORLD IN RELATIVE COMFORT. HOWEVER, AFTER CALCULATING YOUR FINANCES, IT WAS FOUND THAT YOUR REMAINING MONEY WAS NOT ENOUGH TO SAIL WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE A FORCED REST TO EARN THE DAILY BREAD.

Then Serge sold “too big a yacht” to go back to a smaller version in a few years. Furthermore, this ship was to be the smallest ship ever made in such a risky undertaking.

Although Serge later denied his initial plans to set a record for a solo circumnavigation yacht, there is some evidence to the contrary: Before the first sheets of metal appeared on his studio floor, the future designer had studied the statistics of long-distance travel in very small boats with some detail.

In 1965 the Englishman John Reiding managed to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a 12-foot boat. His Bermuda sloop Sjo Ag (“Sea Egg”) covered the distance from Plymouth to Newport in 67 days. And a year later, the Irishman Will Verity in 67 days made a successful transatlantic voyage on the 12-foot sloop Nonoalca, now west to east, from American Lowerdale to the port of Trailly in Ireland.

In the early 1980s, the American Wayne Dickenson sailed in 142 days from Point Allerton in Massachusetts to the Irish coast on the 2.7 (8 ft 11 “) of the Teardrop of God. A year later, the Briton Eric Peter sailed from Las Palmas to Guadalupe in 46 days on the just 1.8 meter (5ft 10.5 “) Toniky-Noo.

As for the Pacific, it was the first time John Reiding had crossed it on a small yacht. His Sjo Ag successfully sailed from San Diego on the west coast of the USA to New Zealand, but moved to Australia and disappeared in the Tasman Sea without a trace. American Jerry Spice was more fortunate: In 1981, he traveled 108 days from Long Beach (California) to Sydney, Australia, with brief stops in Hawaii, Fanning Atoll, Fiji and New Caledonia. By the way, on this trip, the 10 feet from him. (3.05m) Yankee Girl showed great speed: 70 nautical miles with an individual record of 130 miles in 24 hours!

“The children” already managed to set their first transoceanic records, now they had to dominate the routes around the world. Furthermore, the first application of this type had already been made.

“I had no plans, all plans existed only in my head”

Its general concept: a boat of minimum size, with the greatest possible survivability and seaworthiness. The material – aluminum for ship structures, quite strong and not too expensive (anyway, his money was enough only for 200 kg).

Serge immersed himself in work, and dozens of times changing various elements of the keel. The contours of the yacht were literally a hunch: every detail had to look good, and together they had to create a harmonious image of the ship, giving it quite good seaworthiness.

Acrohc Australis yacht overview, specifications and design

Maximum Length (LOA): 3,607 m (11 ft 10 “) Maximum beam: 1.68 m Hull material: 3mm aluminum Weight: 350 kg Ballast: 120 kg Reserve water: 100 lts Fuel: 20 lts

THE RESULT WAS SO ORIGINAL A DESIGN THAT EVEN THE MOTHER OF THE FUTURE TRAVELER REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A REAL BOAT.

It was she who gave him something in the first part of the name: Acrohc (thing, thing) in her native Italian dialect. The second part of the name, Australis , was added patriotically by Sergio himself.

THE BOAT’S CAB WAS SO SMALL THAT IT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE TO BE IN A NARROW BED, IMPOSSIBLE AT FULL HEIGHT BECAUSE OF ITS ROOF UNDER IT. BUT EVERYTHING THAT WAS NEEDED WAS LITERALLY WITHIN ARM REACH.

Unsinkable was guaranteed by six entire hermetically sealed lockers, which the creator of it proudly called “watertight compartments.”

Stability was ensured by a 5-foot keel weighted with ballast of ploin. A special horizontal plate was attached to the middle of the keel to reduce drift with a significant slope.

Serge paid special attention to the possibility of steering the ship without leaving the cockpit. To do this, he installed an additional rudder (inside), as well as a complete system of six winches, thanks to which the sails could also be controlled from the inside.

Once the berth was dismantled, it was possible to sit and do a fairly tolerable observation directly in the field, while the small side windows (rather than even the observation holes) allowed you to look to the horizon from time to time on both sides.

To help with his solo journey, he designed an unusual bow thruster, which could also be adjusted directly from the cockpit.

The challenge was to ensure that the superstructure was completely watertight, with additional holes for the ends of the running rig. The test coped with this with the help of special nylon bushings, which then served it faithfully almost to the end of the world.

THE ACROHC AUSTRALIS EQUIPMENT WAS COMPLETED WITH A FOUR HP OUTBOARD ENGINE, WHICH LATER ALMOST CHALLENGED ITS TITLE OF THE WORLD’S SMALLEST TRAVELER.

According to the hull measurement rules, when recording micro-ship achievements, your LOA must take into account the length of all stationary (as well as towed) fences without exception. Thus, with the official record length of 3.6 meters (without retractable bowsprit and removable rudder), the ‘Australian Stuff’ achieved the undesirable addition of 56.3 cm at the expense of protruding engine mounts and solar panels and ‘grew’ up to 4.17 meters. Who knows, if the Guinness inspectors had treated him less condescendingly in due time, Serge Test’s record would have improved as early as 2003.

Launched on June 9, 1984, Acrohc Australis immediately demonstrated excellent performance without the aid of an engine. Even with relatively calm sea, it could reach speeds of up to 5 knots and could go with a strong base wind.

Now they both had to pass the test by ocean …

“It was no more dangerous than going around the world in a great ship …”

When she left Brisbane and moved slowly north along the Moreton Bay shoreline, few people knew that she had started her famous journey around the world. Serge shared his plans only with his family, suggesting that the final decision to continue the journey would be made only upon reaching Darwin, if he could.

The first day was marked by a landing on the ground. Fortunately, neither the keel nor the hull as a whole were damaged, giving the novice traveler a chance to see the successful design of the ship, which turned out to be as ‘strong as a tank’. During the next four months of sailing around the extreme northeast of Australia, he had to test the strength of the ship more than once, and at the same time, to improve his navigation skills, learn to calculate and determine the place. by visual landmarks.

The start of the trip was more like a cruise that took place in quite favorable weather conditions. The ship behaved well and her skipper got used to being alone and gaining confidence in the eventual success of the endeavor she had conceived.

Arriving in Darwin in early November, Serge spent almost two months in final preparation for his next trip. Acrohc Australis underwent the most meticulous inspection, the box was cleaned and repainted, the rigging was tight and all movements were carefully checked. Now he had a long journey out of sight of the coast, so Testa acquired a sextáte and several books in which he hoped to learn to work with the tool himself. After sailing for a few days with his family in Brisbane, he returned to Darwin after Christmas and already on January 1, 1985 he set sail for the Coconut Islands.

HE ENCOUNTERED THUNDERSTORMS, IN WHICH THE WIND WAS 60 KNOTS, AND FOLLOWED IN HURRICANE. THE SUN DESPAIRING, BURNING THE SKIN AND STRANGE MOISTURE, FOR WHICH IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH SEA WATER, THE WHOLE BODY IS COVERED WITH PAINFUL ULCERS.

But even in unbearable conditions, he managed to expand his knowledge in navigation, having learned to determine the place at the height of the sun at noon with an accuracy of 5 nautical miles.

The first week the weather really spoiled Acrohc Australis , but then the wind got stronger again and it turned into a multi-day storm luckily along the way. Even on the extremely sturdy sails, the little one would literally fly over the waves, traveling 100 miles or more in one day, but then … the autrail failed, so Serge had to stay behind the helm the entire time.

THE MISSING CHRONICA DE SUEÑO GAVE ROOM TO HALLUCINATIONS – IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN, HE HEARD THE ROOSTER SONG AND THE VOICES OF THE CHILDREN.

Fortunately, after a few days, the wind dropped to moderate and on the 29th day of swimming Serge saw the mountains of Mauritius rising directly from the ocean. Having gained a bit of strength in Port Louis and then spent three weeks at the hospitable Saint-Pierre on Reunion Island , he set sail for Madagascar in mid-May.

This was followed by repairs and a relatively quiet passage to Durban , where Serge waited more than three months for winter storms. Only in the “spring” of October for these latitudes Acrohc Australis moved around the Cape of Good Hope . Unfortunately, the calculations for a long period of time favorable this time have not been justified. On the same approach to Cape Town , the ship faced a series of violent storms. The bow thruster failed again and Serge had to spend several days in a row at the helm.

CHRONIC FATIGUE MADE YOU JUST SLEEP AT HER STATION TO WAKE UP ON THE COAST.

Fortunately, the ship was not seriously injured or damaged, and during the tide the ship was taken to the depths. However, the rest of November and the entire month of December, the test had to be carried out in Cape Town for the preventive inspection, cleaning and painting of the hull. Participants in Whitbread’s round-the-world race, whose next stage he was preparing to depart from Cape Town , couldn’t believe the little Acrohc was also traveling the world. But soon even the most desperate skeptics were convinced of Serge’s determination: the new year 1986 marked the beginning of the assault on the Atlantic Ocean.

The trip took the traditional route of navigation through Santa Elena (where the traveler had to stay for three weeks waiting for a bank transfer) and Ascensión . This was followed by a 52-day run to the Brazilian coast , at the end of which the accompanying storms were replaced by a strip of calm. In low winds, the autoruder did not work well enough, and the sole skipper had to hold the rudder nearly twenty-four hours a day, keeping an eye on the compass.

At night, the need to look in and listen to the darkness was added, so as not to get under the stern of a passing ship. With one of these ocean giants , he miraculously lost less than 100 meters, and on another occasion, worried about the nearby engine noise, Serge in vain looking for a source of danger – rather than the approaching ship had to split up with a casualty -planes in flight …

After a grueling transoceanic transition, Brazilian Natalya had only three days to rest: local authorities refused to issue a visa and Testa had to take a course for French Guiana. He spent the next two months navigating the southern Caribbean islands , trying to stay off the Colombian coast for fear of pirate drug traffickers.

The attack was happily avoided, but the miniature boat was constantly shaking in 20-30 knot winds.

ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE HITS THIS TIME WAS THE LOSS OF THE “TOILET” BUCKET, WHICH TURNED THE SHIPPING OF NATURAL NEEDS INTO A TRUE ACROBATIC TRICK.

In May, Acrohc Australis was moored in Puerto Azul , where Serge decided to wait for the satellite navigator to sail across the Pacific , although due to the limited power of the solar panel, it could hardly be activated for half an hour a day.

It was not until the end of August “that the ship” passed through the Panama Canal and headed for the Galapagos . This stage was so painful that Testa was about to interrupt his trip around the world. With mostly weak and unpretentious winds, his ship was held hostage by the opposing Peruvian current (Humboltov). His attempt to cross a difficult section with the engine was unsuccessful, he simply refused to work.

Also, as he moved south, the hull became increasingly filled with seaweed and clams. This significantly slowed the turtle’s already slow speed, for which he had to spend a few hours a day overboard, scraping in vain in an attempt to dispose of the unwanted “passengers”. He was so exhausted that he didn’t even indulge himself with the equator crossing vacation, but he still didn’t give up. On the 34th day of swimming in the rain cover the contours of the nearby land seemed vague, and the next day in a suddenly revived motor «Shtuchka» entered the port of San Cristóbal, one of the easternmost Galapagos Islands.

Test spent most of the three days here searching for methyl alcohol for the stove. After resupplying food and water, he moved further south. The Acrohc Australis road ran through the Marquesas , Tuamotu sea to the pearl of French Polynesia , the fabulous Tahiti .

A month and a half trip in the Southern Ocean literally enchanted Serge, allowing him to truly experience the beauty of solitary wandering. And it’s no wonder: these waters have long been a special draw for boaters. It is no coincidence that this is where Bernard Moiseyesse sought out his Joshua, refusing to win the Golden Globe race in exchange for the opportunity to continue his unity with the Ocean.

He arrived in Tahiti in December and Testa was able to enjoy a well-deserved vacation, combining it with relaxed sightseeing on the magical island. Here he also met the new year 1987, which was destined to be the last year of his trip around the world.

The final phase took more than four months. Acrohc Australis returned to its coasts of origin through the dispersal of islands in the South Seas . The satellite navigator made life much easier, allowing, in Serge’s own words “to sleep with both eyes closed,” but the swimming was not entirely serene.

In the approaches to the Cook Islands there were numerous microthreads in the rear of the mainsail, so the sail had to be careful, taking the reefs or going down even in moderate winds.

As she passed through the Tonga archipelago, she was stranded in the tide of Atat Atoll, and also in a real coral reef trap. Her captain had to manually carry the anchor through the shallow water to pull the boat step by step into the clear water.

The planned landing at Norfolk Testa had to be abandoned: the wind increased sharply and the main anchor had to break away to clear the rocks on the lee coast in time. In addition to that, Serge managed to contract a staphylococcal infection, the treatment of which took a long time and the rest of the already few forces.

However, at the beginning of May, the little Acrohc Australis passed the Moreton Island crossing, officially closed the world and on May 16, 1987 she arrived in her native Brisbane .

A JOURNEY OF ALMOST THREE YEARS WAS COMPLETED WITH SUCCESS. HOWEVER, DIRECTLY AT SEA DURING THIS LONG PERIOD OF TIME, HE SPENT “ONLY 500” UNFORGETTABLE DAYS.

That is the number that Serge Testa immortalized in the title of a book about his journey that made him famous.

‘I’m surprised that my record hasn’t been broken yet …

Serge hasn’t tired of wondering about it for over 30 years. However, he himself did not want to repeat the circumnavigation on a smaller ship. A few years after his legendary voyage, he and his brother built a Polynesian ship and crossed the Pacific Ocean. Thus (obviously, following the example of Tura Heyerdahl) the Testa brothers were going to show that America was open long before Columbus and not from the East but from the West.

However, the expedition failed and the ship had to leave off the coast of Japan. This did not discourage Serge: in the following years he still sailed a lot, and in the early 1990s (already with his wife Robin his) he built a 60-foot boat. Charming steel sloop. On this yacht, the Testa couple sailed around the world in 1993-97 with much more comfort than the Acrohc Australis would ever allow.

Serge Testa with his boat thirty years later

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Crazy or sane? Record attempt for the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic

• Katy Stickland
• May 18, 2022

Andrew Bedwell is planning to smash the record for sailing the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic. His vessel, Big C is just over 1m/3.2ft long

The smallest boat to cross the Atlantic was 5ft 4inches, sailed by American sailor, Hugo Vihlen in 1993.

Many have tried but failed to break this record. But sailor Andrew Bedwell believes he can regain this most unusual of crowns for Britain.

The 48-year-old solo skipper is no stranger to sailing in small craft or pushing the limits.

In 2015, he finished the Jester Baltimore Challenge aboard his 23ft Hunter 707, Outlaw .

The following year, Andrew sailed around Britain singlehanded in his 6.5m (21.3ft) Mini Transat 241 Blue One.

Big C will be sailed using dual furling headsails, outriggers and an A frame mast. Credit: Andrew Bedwell

This was eclipsed by his most extreme challenge to date – sailing 241 Blue One from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Iceland and into the Arctic Circle and back in 2019.

The yacht has no creature comforts – which Andrew actually prefers, being of the Roger Taylor school of ‘back to basics’ sailing.

He slept no more than 20 minutes at a time on a beanbag (the boat had no bunk) and had a bucket as a toilet.

In May 2023 he plans to push himself further and attempt the record for the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic.

The 1,900 mile voyage will start in St Johns, Newfoundland and finish off Lizard Point in Cornwall.

He expects it to take 60 days (that is what he has told his wife) but admits it might take longer, as he will be at the ‘mercy of the weather ‘.

‘There will be days when the wind s are not favourable and I just have to chuck out a sea anchor which is mounted on the bow and just furl everything in and sit there. These will not be the pleasant days,’ he noted.

For now, Andrew is concentrating on finalising his vessel – Big C, which was designed and built by Liverpudlian sailor Tom McNally, a legend in micro-yachting who died in 2017 from cancer.

Tom McNally with his boat Big C which he planned to sail across the Atlantic and back. Andrew Bedwell has now modified the boat to make his own record attempt. Credit: Lorraine McNally

Tom set the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic record in 1993 in his 5ft 4.5 inch boat, Vera Hugh . It was broken by Hugo Vihlen.

Andrew, who has run a boat repair business, has modified Big C himself. The boat is built out of GRP with a foam core. He has modified McNally’s plans, making the boat smaller and essentially custom building the vessel for his height.

Even so, at 6ft tall, he still can’t stand up in the craft when the dome is down and will have to follow exercises provided by a physiotherapist to keep his legs functioning.

‘When my backside is sitting on the floor, my head is literally an inch away from the dome at the top and being just over a 1m long, I can only stretch my legs out about two-thirds of the way,’ explained Andrew.

‘I do appreciate the nice things in life but I prefer to rough it and making my life harder for myself; this seemed the ultimate challenge, especially as it is my 50th birthday next year. There is no toilet on board so in fact my only comfort on board Big C will be a flannel, which will be heavily tied on to the outside and hanging overboard.’

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The boat has 12 watertight compartments – eight internally and four externally – as well as open and closable vents. Once fully sealed, Big C only has 40 minutes of air inside before Andrew would pass out.

Food has been worked out by a nutritionist and will be made by Andrew’s wife, before being packed into the craft.

‘I don’t want to say vile, but the food is not the most flavoursome. We will pack it outside of Big C in the external tanks to increase stability and internally, using the external food first.’

Big C ‘s keel will hold 5 litres of drinking water and there is a manual watermaker to top up the tank which will be operated by Andrew’s right hand.

Power will be provided by solar panels on the back of the craft, and there will be a hand-cranked generator which will be operated by both Andrew’s left and right hand.

The main compartment will have AIS, VHF radio and a small chartplotter to keep power consumption down.

Big C will begin sea trials in mid-June ahead of the challenge in May 2023. Credit: Andrew Bedwell

Big C is a ‘downwind, tradewind vessel’. She has twin rudders (in case one breaks) dual furling headsails, outriggers and an A frame mast.

‘We have twin furling headsails, you can furl them or unfurl them. I can unfurl them from inside, I can sheet them from inside. We will be relying on the tradewinds,’ said Andrew, who is from Scarisbrick, Lancashire.

In heavy weather , Andrew will use a full harness to strap himself to Big C . He will also have a full support crew to track and guide his passage.

Andrew Bedwell will be trying to break the record set by American sailor Hugo Vihlen in 1993 in his 5ft 4in boat, Father’s Day . Credit: Tom Meaker/Alamy Stock Photo

Big C will start sea trials in mid-June, and Andrew has several longer passages planned before the record attempt.

He is also looking for sponsors. He had hoped the drinks firm, Red Bull would back him but the firm declined saying of the challenge it was ‘inspirational, but mad’.

‘My 9 year old daughter thinks it is incredible. I hope she is proud. My wife thinks I am absolutely crackers,’ said Andrew. ‘But you have to push yourself. Life is about challenges and there are an awful lot of people going through life thinking ‘I wish I had done…’ I’ve gone the other way and say I will do it.’

The Big C Atlantic Challenge will be raising money for Cancer Research in tribute to Tom McNally.

Who was Tom McNally?

Liverpudlian Tom McNally was intent on setting records for the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic.

He achieved his goal in July 1993 when he sailed the 5ft 4.5 inch boat, Vera Hugh , from Lisbon, Portugal to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida via Puerto Rico, despite a cracked hull and having run out of water and food.

The boat was partly built out of an old discarded wardrobe and the hatch was made out of an old washing machine door.

Tom beat the world record set by American sailor Hugo Vilhen in 1968 after he crossed in April Fool, which was 5ft 11in.

But Tom’s glory was was short lived when Vilhen sailed the 5ft 4in Father’s Day from Newfoundland to Cornwall in 105 days, reclaiming the crown in September 1993.

Tom McNally designed Big C himself. Credit: Ajax News & Feature Service / Alamy Stock Photo

Undeterred, Tom tried to take it back.

In 2002 he attempted, but failed, to cross the Atlantic in the tiny 3ft 10.5in Vera Hugh – Cancer Research. Having sailed 800 miles from Gibraltar to Gran Canaria, the boat and all his equipment was stolen from the harbour at Mogan.

In 2009, he planned a double Atlantic crossing in his purpose-built 3ft 10inch boat, The Big C , to raise money for Sail 4 Cancer.

His route would have seen him sail from Cadiz to the Canary Islands, and on to Puerto Rico. Tom was then planning on sailing north along the eastern seaboard of the USA before heading back to him home port of Liverpool.

Sadly, illness thwarted his plans.

After battling cancer for more than eight years, Tom McNally died on 12 June 2017 at the age of 77.

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Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Why I’m crossing the Atlantic in the world’s smallest yacht

• Alison Wood
• September 23, 2022

Andrew Bedwell can't even sit straight in his 1m boat, let alone stand, yet he plans to spend 60+ days at sea in his microyacht, sailing solo and eating cold squares of dehydrated beef 

What’s inspired this world record microyacht attempt?  

I’ve always dreamed of breaking the world record for the smallest vessel to cross the Atlantic . Big C is just over a metre long, and the current record is held by US sailor Hugo Vihlen, whose boat Father’s Day was 5ft 4in. The plan is to do exactly the same route as he did. Leaving in May 2023, I’ll be sailing the northern route from St John’s Newfoundland back to the UK. 

What was the last sailing challenge you did? 

I took a 21ft Mini Transat up into the Arctic – it was a prototype with a canting keel – around Iceland towards Greenland, through Denmark Strait and back home to the UK. I raised money for my daughter’s school. Now I’ve gone for a bigger project but in a smaller boat .

Andrew Bedwell with Big C , his transatlantic microyacht

What’s the appeal of microyachting? 

I love the simplicity of microyachting. I like the unusual side of life; sleeping in my van or on the mountainside in bivvy bags with my 9-year-old daughter. I don’t need luxuries, and this boat here obviously hasn’t got any of those. 

Inside Big C . Andrew’s daughter has illustrated the hatch

What does your daughter think of your voyage? 

She thinks it’s just a brave thing to do. She’s drawn pictures on my boat. I want this challenge to show her that she should be able to get out and do things. If you don’t go for it, you’ll never know what could have been. It might not work but we’re going to go as far as we can.

Is it typical for a microyacht to just have twin headsails?

No, it’s not typical, but there’s no room for a mainsail on here, and the boat is designed to sail dead downwind . It’s tried and tested. We’ve got spare sail if we need it, but it’s a simple system and not a lot can go wrong. 

Who designed the boat?

Tom McNally. Unfortunately he died of cancer. That’s why he named the boat Big C . He was a microyachter. In 1993 he broke the record in a 5ft 4½inch boat [which was trumped the very same year by Hugo Vihlen in a boat half an inch shorter!]. Tom designed and started building this boat so we’ve got great confidence in the boat’s design. All we’ve done is brought it up to date. 

How far have you gone on Big C to date?

Not so far, initially, because it’s really difficult to get a downwind boat in and out of the harbour. We’ve only done about 10 miles in it, but you know what? That’s probably more than a lot of the other people have done before attempting to break the record. When Tom McNally and other microyachters have had a go they’ve literally gone to the quayside, put the boat in, maybe done some last-minute modifications, then shot off! You often find it’s the more quirky people who do this kind of challenge. 

With twin headsails but no mainsail, Big C can only sail downwind

Just how seaworthy is Big C ?

We’ve made the boat so it’s actually quite lightly ballasted so it reacts to the waves really well. Big, big rolling seas are no issue at all. With breaking waves, the boat can still contain itself. The whole hull is about 12mm thick everywhere so it is absolutely solid and designed for the job. It’s a complete safety cell.

Small is actually sometimes better in a big sea state. We see big container ships breaking up in the middle because they’re on the peak and the trough and basically on the peak of the next wave. With Big C , we can actually fold the boat away – by which, I mean, we take the outriggers up against the mast – so if we know that we’ve got a big weather system coming through, we can get the hatch down, buckle up and sit it out.

It’s going to be like the best fairground ride! A lot of people pay for that kind of thing at Alton Towers. It’s not going to be pleasant but then no real record attempt will be too pleasant! 

Will the boat invert then right itself?

If we get storms, that’s what the boat is designed to do. Tom didn’t want Big C to be too deep drafted because that gives it a very odd motion when it’s sitting in the waves. Yes, this will roll, but because it’s actually quite light, as soon as the wave passes it will pop to the top. It won’t stay inverted or anything like that. 

How much air do you have inside?

We can actually manage the way that the air is getting in and out of the boat. We’ve got about 40 minutes of air in there so we’ve got two dorade vents on the front that can rotate. We’ll have one into the wind and one away from the wind, and then there’ll be butterfly flaps (they’re not on there yet) so the wind can pass through but if a wave hits them they’ll just snap shut . 

What will you eat?

Pemmican – it’s what Amundsen ate on his Antarctic expeditions. My version is beef drippings, beef and raisins – all dehydrated. My wife and I made it. I’ll have two slabs a day. 

Will you have satellite communications?

We’ve got an Iridium Edge Solar, which has been used up into the Arctic and down in the Antarctic, and that’s a very small self-contained solar beacon that will be mounted on the deck. Internally we’ve got a class B AIS transponder, then we’re going to have an AIS receiver – two separate units so that if one fails I have backup. There’ll be a fixed VHF, handheld VHF and then obviously EPIRBs . There’ll be as much in there as we can carry. There are so many different companies creating amazing products but we’re limited by space . 

How long will the Atlantic crossing take?

With perfect conditions it would take 60 days, but we’ve modelled the voyage over the last 20 years and worked out that I’ll probably be sitting through around 20 days of storms with the sea anchor out.

Where will you sit and sleep?

I’ve got a little hammock that sits on deck so I can actually put my legs up. I can stand up for a lot of the time. I’ve got exercises I’ve been given by a physiotherapist, and I can stretch myself up against the rig. When I’m asleep I’ll need to curl up into the foetal position at the bottom of the boat, but in inclement conditions I’ll just be harnessing myself in and sleeping upright. I’ve got a beanie hat that’s got this special foam in so my head won’t rattle around in the cage… did I say ‘cage’? I mean cockpit!

• Follow’s Andrew’s preparations and adventures on Facebook at Big C Atlantic Challenge  

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Home » Blog » Buy a boat » 5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat  you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ). 

• Hull Type: Long fin keel
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
• Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
• Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
• Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
• Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
• Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
• Designer:Per Brohall
• Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
• Year First Built:1965
• Year Last Built:1979
• Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD) 

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

• Hull Type: Full Keel
• Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
• Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
• Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
• Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
• Displacement/Length Ratio:49
• Designer: Carl Alberg
• Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
• Year First Built:1974
• Year Last Built:1988
• Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

• Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
• Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
• Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
• Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
• Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
• Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
• Designer:Michael Dufour
• Builder:Dufour (France)
• Year First Built:1975
• Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

• Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
• Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
• Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
• Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
• Rig Type: Cutter rig
• Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
• Designer: Robert B Harris
• Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
• Year First Built:1986
• Last Year Built: 2007
• Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

• Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
• Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
• Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
• Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
• Designer: Herb David
• Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
• Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

First look: Spirit 30 – Spirit’s smallest ever yacht

• Rupert Holmes
• November 11, 2021

The all-new Spirit 30 is the smallest yacht ever produced by the well regarded British yard which specialises in modern classic wooden yachts. Rupert Holmes reports

The sleek classic style of all Spirit Yachts is guaranteed to turn heads and the Ispwich-based yard’s smallest new model for many years, the spirit 30 is no exception.

The Spirit 30 follows the well-proven format of a light displacement, modern hull shape below the water allied to a performance rig and sails. It’s a combination that delivers speeds which belie the boat’s modest dimensions.

During the commissioning sail, for example, the Spirit 30 recorded 6.8 knots of boat speed close-hauled and 10 knots off the wind in 18-20 knots of breeze.

Yet this is civilised vessel with a self-tacking furling jib and all sail controls led aft for easy single and short-handed sailing. The first example is an open day sailer with a large cockpit, although there are also plans for a version with a cuddy and basic overnight accommodation.

Auxiliary power is from a Torqeedo Cruise 4.0FP electric pod drive. This offers a 16-mile range at five knots with the standard battery and a maximum speed under power of 6.5 knots.

The wood epoxy composite construction is one of the most sustainable options for building a new boat, requiring far less noxious resins and plastics than conventional fibreglass structures.

Typically three layers of timber are epoxy glued together, creating an extremely stiff, yet very light, monocoque structure. A protective outer layer of glass cloth and epoxy is then applied, which enhances waterproofing and provides impact resistance.

Spirit 30. Photo: Spirit Yachts / Waterline Media

Spirit Yachts has gone a stage further than usual with this boat, using flax fibres and bio resins for the outer layer. The result is what the company says is its most sustainable yacht to date and plans to roll out the same materials to the larger boats in the range.

The Spirit 30 is offered with a choice of fixed or lifting keels and the boat is light enough to be towed on a road trailer. The first example is scheduled to be exhibited at the Dusseldorf boat show in January 2022.

Spirit 30 specifications:

LOA: 9.15m 30ft 0in LWL: 6.5m 21ft 4in Beam: 1.9m 6ft 3in Draught: 1.6m 5ft 3in Displacement: 1,700kg 3,750lb Builder: www.spirityachts.com Base price: £250,000 ex VAT

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What’s the Smallest Yacht in the World?

When most people think about investing in a private yacht, they may base their purchasing decision in part on square footage. Most boaters want plenty of space for their friends and family members to enjoy a day on the water, but there are some who have much different interests. For many, the best choice for their needs and circumstances is a small vessel known as the Jet Capsule, a fully customizable boat measuring just 25 feet long by 11 feet wide. Find out more about why this mini-yacht is making waves with so many boaters who are looking to purchase a vessel and enjoy top-notch yacht management in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

What is the Jet Capsule?

The Jet Capsule, often referred to as the mini-yacht, is designed to facilitate relaxation and enjoyment in much less space than a traditional yacht. The hull is made of fiberglass, and the yacht also has photochromic windows and a rear platform that allows boaters to admire the incredible views and clear weather. The vessel also has features like a sunbed on the roof, automatic doors, a bed and a toilet to provide boaters with all of the comforts they need to enjoy their time out on the water.

Despite its small size, the two powerful engines of the Jet Capsule allow it to reach a speed of up to 55 miles per hour. The interior of the yacht features seating, tables and a sophisticated control panel that allows you to effectively navigate the vessel through the water. Even though the Jet Capsule is small in size, the price tag can still be pretty steep. People pay about $250,000 for a base level of this ship, without any customized features. This pricing can increase significantly depending on the features and components that are selected. Still, many buyers find this price to be worth it for the quality of the ship itself.

People choose the Jet Capsule for many different reasons. For some, the personalization options are the biggest draw. Others like the zippy maneuvering of the vessel, which makes it easy to take out on the water. Still others prefer a minimalistic design to the larger yachts that are on the market. Regardless of the reason, though, this mini-yacht has proved to be a success on the market, and there are certain to be even more small yacht options in the coming years to cater to a wider variety of prospective yacht owners.

Find reliable yacht management in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Whether you have a mini-yacht of your own or you prefer a more traditional ship, it’s important that you have a reliable provider of yacht management in Fort Lauderdale, FL who can help provide you with the services and information you need to properly care for your ship. At Starboard Yacht Group LLC, we know just how important it is to care for your yacht, which is why we are proud to provide a wide range of maintenance and repair services. In addition, we offer captain and crew services that allow you to keep your ship sufficiently staffed. Regardless of the specific services you’re looking for, you can get more information by reaching out to us today.

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Breaking news, record attempt for atlantic crossing in smallest boat ends in tears as 3-foot vessel is destroyed.

He’s gonna need a bigger boat.

A sailor’s record-setting quest to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the smallest boat ever ended in tears when the 3-foot 10-inch boat began taking on water shortly after his departure and smashed on a seawall as it was being hauled out for repairs.

Andrew Bedwell, a 49-year-old sailor and sailmaker from England spent three years outfitting his micro yacht named “Big C” and finally set out on the planned 1,900-mile voyage from Newfoundland to the southern tip of England last weekend.

In a video posted on Instagram the day before his Sunday departure, Bedwell appeared positively chuffed to be on his way.

“So, tomorrow’s the day!” he said with a twinkling eye, before telling followers how they could track his progress across the deep.

But within hours of his grand departure, Bedwell explained in a decidedly more muted video that he’d been forced to return to port. The Big C began taking on water, a problem he suspected was brought on by last-minute modifications he’d made.

Undeterred, he said he was shortly heading back out to the harbor to assess the situation.

On Monday, Bedwell posted a tearful video describing the tragedy. Through shuddering sobs, he explained how Big C had “basically sunk” by the time he’d returned to the harbor. The boat was filled with “half or three quarters of a ton or a ton of water” and had to be lifted out by her framework instead of with straps run under the hull.

“We lifted her up, got her up to the harbor wall. And the framework gave way…” Bedwell said, gasping for air between sobs and pulling at his hair in agonized despair. “And she dropped down onto the harborside, and basically it destroyed the boat.”

“Big C is no more. She can’t carry on. I can’t do it. I’m sorry, Um, I’m just. I…” Then the message cut off.

Bedwell captioned the video “Big C – the end of a dream.” His accounts have gone radio-silent since.

The decline was a startling and raw display for Bedwell, a salty Sir Edmund Hillary-looking Brit who’s previously sailed to the Arctic in a 21-foot boat and always appeared the consummately stolid seaman in his countless Instagram posts and media appearances promoting the Big C journey.

But his inconsolable state was more than understandable — for the past three years Bedwell had dedicated all his energies to preparing for the trip. He raised thousands in funding and sponsorship. He had planned to donate proceeds to cancer charities in honor of his parents.

Bedwell purchased Big C itself from the daughter of Tom McNally, according to Yachting World , a sailor who once set the record for a trans-Atlantic Crossing in the world’s smallest vessel in 1993 before being beaten out by a competitor. McNally had built Big C to reclaim the record but died of kidney cancer in 2017 before he could mount the voyage.

Once in his hands, Bedwell undertook a considerable overhaul of Big C. He modified elements of the hull design to increase stability and speed, doing his own metal and fiberglass work along the way to machine one-of-a-kind parts for his one-of-a-kind boat.

The boat’s keel was outfitted to store fresh water, and the inner wall of the hull was designed to maximize compartment space that he filled with enough vacuum-sealed packs of a bizarre raisin and beef jerky recipe of his own creation to last the more than 90 days he expected to be at sea.

Big C’s cabin was only big enough for cramped sitting and sleeping in a tight fetal position, but Bedwell managed to rig it with comfortable seating and chose efficient clothing like a long mariner’s overcoat which served as both a warm waterproof jacket and sleeping bag.

Bedwell placed a domed weather-proof hatch window over the cabin, used an outrigger system to maximize sail space, hooked up the running lights and navigational computers to solar panels, and let his 10-year-old daughter Poppy decorate the interior with drawings of their family.

In the video announcing Big C’s demise, Bedwell thanked his supporters for their support and apologized for how the adventure ended.

“I don’t know what to say to everyone who’s supported and helped me. You’ve all been incredible.”

Asked whether he planned to mount another record attempt, Bedwell told The Post “It’s still early days.”

“It has to be a new vessel though as there’s lots of damage on Big C, so it’s speaking with current sponsors and I’ve had some very kind offers from a lot of people who can assist with a new vessel.”

One of Poppy’s decorations inside Big C was a hatch filled with urgings that her dad return safely and soon, listing the “cuddles,” the “tickles,” and the “trampolining” she’d miss while he was away.

On it, she also printed a message in green marker with a reminder to her dad: “Always try your best and never give up!”

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The two reasons Bayesian yacht captain is 'remaining silent' after horror deaths

The captain of the yacht is subject to a manslaughter probe in italy after seven people died as result of the bayesian sinking..

The captain of the Bayesian yacht that sunk off the coast of Sicily earlier this month is staying silent for now as a manslaughter investigation is launched into the tragedy.

James Cutfield, 51, is being investigated for manslaughter after the vessel sunk, leading to the death of seven people.

Among them was the owner of the yacht, British businessman Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

Mr Cutfield insists he did everything he could to save the people onboard, sources close to him have said.

He and his crew are under investigation, but the probe does not mean formal charges will be brought against any of them.

READ MORE Bayesian superyacht captain under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck [LATEST]

Tim Parker-Eaton, from Clophill, Beds, and sailor Matthew Griffith, 22, are also under investigation.

Mr Cutfield's brother, Mark, told the New Zealand Herald that his brother is recovering in hospital.

He added that James is a “very good sailor."

Italian law dictates that the welfare of passengers is the responsibility of the captain of the vessel.

Mr Cutfield's lawyer has said there are two reasons why his client has yet to break his silence on the investigation.

He told The Times: “There were two reasons. He is understandably very shaken up, and secondly, us lawyers were only appointed yesterday and we need to acquire information we do not have in order to defend him.”

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Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio has said there may have been “behaviours that were not perfectly in order with regard to the responsibility everybody had.”

He promised to “discover how much they knew and to what extent all the people (passengers) were warned.”

Mr Cartosio added: “There could be in fact the question of homicide. But this is the beginning of the inquiry, we cannot exclude anything at all…We will establish each element’s (crew) responsibility.

"For me, it is probable that offences were committed — that it could be a case of manslaughter.”

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Millionaire supermarket heir ‘ploughs luxury yacht into boat killing fisherman in hit-and-run in Brit holiday hotspot’

• Zeenia Naqvee , Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 13:06, 30 Aug 2024
• Updated : 13:31, 30 Aug 2024

A MILLIONAIRE supermarket heir is accused of crashing his dad's yacht into a small boat, killing a fisherman.

Dennis Viehof, 35, then allegedly sped away from the scene on the £3.3 million yacht he borrowed from his dad in holiday hotspot Majorca.

German national Viehof - the son of millionaire Klaus Viehof, 62 - allegedly lost control of the 20-metre-long La Luna yacht on August 23 in fishing town Cala Bona.

Witnesses saw the yacht going too quickly before it hit and overpowered the comparatively smaller fishing boat carrying three.

The keen anglers were out hunting for some squid and hoping to land some at around 10pm.

But the yacht allegedly failed to stop and help the fisherman and promising volleyball player Guillem Comamala, understood to be 20, died at the scene.

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Viehof - heir to the Allkauf supermarket fortune - is currently being investigated for manslaughter after his allegedly reckless control of the luxury yacht.

The surviving fishermen say the impact of the hit was so severe it ripped the engine from the boat, leaving it completely incapacitated.

The black yacht was reportedly given a rushed and frantic cleaning the next morning.

Glasses were discarded into the harbour basin just before cops arrived to seal off the vessel.

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The Guardia Civil suspect the cleanup operation may have been an attempt to erase any traces of a wild night of partying.

But a cleaner on the sailing boat insisted she was unaware of the tragic accident and just followed Viehof's basic instructions.

Investigators have since revealed that the yacht had apparently been recklessly speeding across the water with its powerful 1550 hp engine.

They also revealed that its crew failed to slow down or offer any assistance even after seeing the effects of the collision.

They're also looking into whether anyone aboard the ship tried to flee the scene after and examining the crew's claim that they were unaware of the fatal crash.

Cops reportedly found a phone during their search of the yacht and hope it can reveal vital clues related to last Friday's incident.

Surveillance footage from the nearby yacht club is now under review to pinpoint the exact number of people aboard the vessel on August 23.

Viehof was quizzed by local cops on August 24, the day after the incident as part of the manslaughter investigation.

Infobae reports that he voluntarily pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and failure to provide assistance and was released after exercising his right not to testify.

The investigation continues.

Tributes flooded in for popular volleyball player Guillem and his club Club Voleibol Portol issued a moving statement.

They said: "A very sad day for our family. We, from the Portol Volleyball Club, want to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and acquaintances of Guillem Comamala Fiol.

"As a club, we had the privilege of watching him grow up from a young age. He won us all over with his personality and his skills as a player.

"We shared spectacular moments with him, lifting trophies, winning medals, overcoming defeats, but above all, growing together and feeling proud to share unforgettable moments.

"We will always carry you with us, Guillem, always by our side, fighting like a superhero and smiling despite adversity. Thank you for everything, Guillem, you are and will always be eternal."

The Viehofs are one of Germany's wealthiest families. Dennis's dad Klaus is the son of Eugen Viehof, who sold his Allkauf retail group in 1998, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

They also report that Dennis is a pilot who has had his aviation licence since he was just 18.

Authorities Investigating Crew Members of Sunken Yacht, Captain for Manslaughter

No charges have been pressed — yet., plot thickens.

The investigation into the sinking of a yacht earlier this month in Siciliy that killed seven people, including British billionaire Mike Lynch , is expanding. Italian authorities are now including two more crew members in its probe, The New York Times reports , joining the ship's captain, James Cutfield, who has been under a manslaughter inquiry since Monday.

The 184-foot vessel, the Bayesian, capsized while at anchor just minutes after being caught in a storm the morning of August 19. There were 22 people aboard the yacht — 10 crew and 12 passengers — when it went down. Among the seven who died, six were passengers, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

Newly under investigation, as of Wednesday, are the ship's engineer Tim Parker Eaton, who manned the engine room, and sailor Matthew Griffith, who was serving as lookout the night of the sinking.

No charges have been pressed yet, because in Italy being investigated doesn't necessarily mean that criminal charges will follow, according to the NYT .

Too Big to Sink

That a ship of the Bayesian's size and caliber sank so easily has raised concern among sailors and investigators — and even the ship's manufacturer , which maintains that it should have been "unsinkable."

There are also questions about why so many passengers perished, while all but one of the crew made it out alive. Raffaele Cammarano, the prosecutor of the case, suggested that the victims may have been asleep while the disaster swiftly unfolded.

Whether any crew members were there to wake them up is "precisely what we are trying to ascertain," he said, as quoted by The Guardian .

So far, only Cutfield, the captain, is under a manslaughter investigation for possible negligence that led to the deaths of the passengers. The 51-year-old New Zealander was interrogated by prosecutors on Tuesday, but exercised his right to remain silent.

All nine of the surviving crew members, including Cutfield, have left Italy, according to the NYT . They were under no obligation to stay there, but were required to appoint legal representation before leaving, Reuters reported .

Dredging Up

The investigation is still in its nascent stages, but several red flags have already cropped up.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns the Bayesian's builder Perini Navi, argued in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera  that the ship being at anchor was one of them. He suggests that the crew may have failed to follow proper procedures , such as lifting anchor, steering into the storm, and securing all doors and hatches.

According to CBS News , which cites reports by Italian media, prosecutors are investigating whether Eaton, the Bayesian's engineer, neglected to use security systems that automatically closed all these openings in the ship's hull, which could explain why it sank so rapidly.

But to reiterate, no one has been charged yet. A crucial stage of the investigation will be salvaging the shipwreck, which currently lies 165 feet under the sea, and that will take considerable time.

More on maritime disasters: Billionaire Yacht Was Piloted Recklessly Before Deadly Sinking, Its Builder Warns

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Sailing yachts like Mike Lynch's are 'unsinkable bodies', CEO of boat manufacturing firm says

Bayesian superyacht which sank off Italy is an "unsinkable" vessel, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, said.

By Ashna Hurynag, news correspondent and Eleonora Chiarella, producer

Sunday 25 August 2024 08:48, UK

Vessels like Mike Lynch's stricken superyacht are "unsinkable", according to the chief executive of the firm which makes and sells them.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, told Sky News there are no flaws with the design and construction of the Bayesian superyacht which capsized in a storm off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on Monday.

Five bodies were found by divers on Wednesday - taking the number of confirmed dead to six.

The Italian Sea Group also owns the firm that built British tech tycoon Mr Lynch's Bayesian, and Mr Costantino said the vessels "are the safest in the most absolute sense".

"Being the manufacturer of Perini [boats], I know very well how the boats have always been designed and built," he said.

"And as Perini is a sailing ship... sailing ships are renowned to be the safest ever."

He said their structure and keel made them "unsinkable bodies".

Read more on this story: Why search of superyacht wreck has been so difficult Hero mum 'slept with baby on deck when storm sank yacht'

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Mr Costantino said news of the sinking "put me in a state of sadness on one side and of disbelief on the other".

"This incident sounds like an unbelievable story, both technically and as a fact," he said.

It is understood Italian prosecutors investigating the incident are continuing to hold interviews with the survivors.

On Tuesday they questioned the captain for more than two hours to help reconstruct what happened and provide useful technical details.

Four British inspectors are also in Porticello and have begun a preliminary assessment of events.

It is understood they will look at all relevant aspects of the incident, including the design, stability, and operation of the vessel. They will also examine the effects of the weather conditions experienced.

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Twenty-two people were on board the vessel, 15 of whom were rescued - including Briton Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter Sofia.

Divers will resume efforts on Thursday morning to bring ashore a body they found earlier. One more person remains missing.

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